What Really Happened to Symone Nicole Marshall?

To speak to a loved one that is trapped inside a correctional facility is one thing, but to have that person die under sterile fluorescent lights and cold concrete surrounded by people that meant them no good is a devastating blow to bare.

To speak to a loved one that is trapped inside a correctional facility is one thing, but to have that person die under sterile fluorescent lights and cold concrete surrounded by people that meant them no good is a devastating blow to bare.

Until three days ago, most of the world didn’t know anything of 22-year-old Symone Nicole Marshall, but on Tuesday, noted New York Daily News Senior justice Writer Shaun King brought her unfortunate and infuriating story to light.

This vibrant mother of a 3-year-old daughter was reportedly in a car accident in which her vehicle flipped several times before landing in a ditch back on April 26. Symone was taken straight to Walker County Jail in Huntsville, Texas instead of being taken to a hospital according to family members.

“I called the jail several times and requested for them to take her to a real hospital and they wouldn’t do so,” Honey Marshall, Symone’s sister, told the Daily News. “If they would have done this, her death could have been prevented and my sister would still be here. My heart hurts so bad. She was my best friend. I am so angry that they did this to her.”

(Photo Credit: AtlantaBlackStar.com)

Marshall told family members that she was suffering from headaches and blackout spells. 15 days later, she died of then undetermined causes. At the time the Daily News story was published, there had not been any official word from Texas corrections and that was a full week after Symone’s death. It was only after King’s expose that officials were prodded into releasing information.

According to local Houston media, Marshall had a passenger on the day in question named Amanda Arnold. Police reportedly arrested the duo after finding cocaine in the vehicle. Though the amount has not been publicized as of yet, the fact that Marshall’s bail was $5,000 leads one to believe the amount was a relatively low.

However, she had only recently moved to the state and had just gotten a job at a local restaurant and could not afford to bond out. Symone was also charged for not providing identification as well.

Funny how the narrative of a beautiful sister lost to the system has switched and now Symone is being alluded to as a cocaine addict that may have been driving high. No, they didn’t say that but they may as well had. But even if she had a $10,000 a week cocaine habit, Symone Marshall deserved prompt medical treatment. I pray she gets the justice she deserves in death.

Verbalizing concerns that this case not end up like the Sandra Bland case, Sheriff Clint McCrae told the media Wednesday that Marshall had suffered a seizure last week and was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. He went on to deny any wrongdoing from his department and said the deceased never asked for medical attention at anytime while in custody.

Starting his career as lead writer for EURweb.com back in 1998, Ricardo A Hazell has served as Senior Contributor with The Shadow League since coming to the company in 2013. His byline has appeared in the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, the South China Sea Morning Post, the Root and many other publications. At TSL he is charged with exploring black cultural angles where they intersect with the mainstream.